Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Earlier this week I met a number of young consultants who were working in our public hospital in Castlebar.They outlined an issue that gives me great cause for concern because of the ramifications for our health system. It is basically a matter of pay equality. After 2012, all new consultants were on 30% less than their counterparts registered before 2012. This means younger consultants are working alongside people registered before 2012 for significantly less remuneration. On top of that, numerous locums are being brought in to fill vacancies or cover, and they are on significantly more money than these young consultants, notwithstanding the fact they are less qualified and not registered or qualified in the same fashion as the younger consultants. These locums are brought in with any walk of life but it is pretty much an industry at this stage because of the number of vacancies across different disciplines for consultants. I know there are vacancies in Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar and it is the case throughout the country.

I am particularly concerned as in just a few years there will be senior consultants and surgeons in Castlebar who will retire so how will we fill these positions? As I understand it, it costs €100 million to pay locums. We need to look at a better way to spend money and retain our Irish-qualified doctors and consultants in the system. If the matter is not tackled now, the problems will only get worse and I am worried about my local hospital. I am sure that throughout the country people will be worried about their own acute hospitals. We need to act now and I ask that the Minister for Health be brought in to discuss this, along with a number of other pressing health matters.